'Mad? Not She, Child; She is only wicked. She is a Gypsy, a sort of Vagabond, whose sole occupation is to run about the country telling lyes, and pilfering from those who come by their money honestly. Out upon such Vermin! If I were King of Spain, every one of them should be burnt alive who was found in my dominions after the next three weeks.'
These words were pronounced so audibly that they reached the Gypsy's ears. She immediately pierced through the Crowd and made towards the Ladies. She saluted them thrice in the Eastern fashion, and then addressed herself to Antonia.
THE GYPSY
'Lady! gentle Lady! Know, I your future fate can show;Give your hand, and do not fear;
Lady! gentle Lady! hear!'
'Dearest Aunt!' said Antonia, 'Indulge me this once! Let me have my fortune told me!'
'Nonsense, Child! She will tell you nothing but falsehoods.'
'No matter; Let me at least hear what She has to say. Do, my dear Aunt! Oblige me, I beseech you!'
'Well, well! Antonia, since you are so bent upon the thing, . . .
Here, good Woman, you shall see the hands of both of us. There is money for you, and now let me hear my fortune.'
As She said this, She drew off her glove, and presented her hand;The Gypsy looked at it for a moment, and then made this reply.
THE GYPSY
'Your fortune? You are now so old, Good Dame, that 'tis already told:
Yet for your money, in a trice I will repay you in advice.
Astonished at your childish vanity, Your Friends alltax you with insanity, And grieve to see you use your art To catch some youthful Lover's heart.
Believe me, Dame, when all is done, Your age will still be fifty one;And Men will rarely take an hint Of love, from two grey eyes that squint.
Take then my counsels; Lay aside Your paint and patches, lust and pride, And on the Poor those sums bestow, Which now are spent on useless show.
Think on your Maker, not a Suitor;
Think on your past faults, not on future;And think Time's Scythe will quickly mow The few red hairs, which deck your brow.
The audience rang with laughter during the Gypsy's address;and--'fifty one,'--'squinting eyes,' 'red hair,' --'paint and patches,' &c. were bandied from mouth to mouth. Leonella was almost choaked with passion, and loaded her malicious Adviser with the bitterest reproaches. The swarthy Prophetess for some time listened to her with a contemptuous smile: at length She made her a short answer, and then turned to Antonia.
THE GYPSY
'Peace, Lady! What I said was true;
And now, my lovely Maid, to you;
Give me your hand, and let me see Your future doom, and heaven's decree.'
In imitation of Leonella, Antonia drew off her glove, and presented her white hand to the Gypsy, who having gazed upon it for some time with a mingled expression of pity and astonishment, pronounced her Oracle in the following words.
THE GYPSY
'Jesus! what a palm is there!
Chaste, and gentle, young and fair, Perfect mind and form possessing, You would be some good Man's blessing:
But Alas! This line discovers, That destruction o'er you hovers;Lustful Man and crafty Devil Will combine to work your evil;And from earth by sorrows driven, Soon your Soul must speed to heaven.
Yet your sufferings to delay, Well remember what I say.
When you One more virtuous see Than belongs to Man to be, One, whose self no crimes assailing, Pities not his Neighbour's Failing, Call the Gypsy's words to mind:
Though He seem so good and kind, Fair Exteriors oft will hide Hearts, that swell with lust and pride!
Lovely Maid, with tears I leave you!
Let not my prediction grieve you;
Rather with submission bending Calmly wait distress impending, And expect eternal bliss In a better world than this.
Having said this, the Gypsy again whirled herself round thrice, and then hastened out of the Street with frantic gesture. The Crowd followed her; and Elvira's door being now unembarrassed Leonella entered the House out of honour with the Gypsy, with her Niece, and with the People; In short with every body, but herself and her charming Cavalier. The Gypsy's predictions had also considerably affected Antonia; But the impression soon wore off, and in a few hours She had forgotten the adventure as totally as had it never taken place.